Numerous challenges face providers who are administering developmental screenings for refugee children, including differences in cultural and religious beliefs, language barriers, and disparate education levels, according to new research from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) published in the journal Pediatrics.

The United States takes in approximately 70,000 refugees annually, of which 30 percent are children, and refugee resettlement experiences are known to impact critical stages of a child's intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development. But the developmental screenings recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics don't always translate perfectly to other cultures, which can lead to a missed diagnosis of a potentially serious developmental disability. The research is the first known attempt to study the obstacles surrounding refugee developmental screening.